{"id":545237,"date":"2026-04-22T20:18:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T20:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/545237\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T20:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T20:18:08","slug":"newphew-taj-criticizes-media-over-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/545237\/","title":{"rendered":"Newphew Taj Criticizes Media Over Coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tA member of Michael<\/a> Jackson\u2019s family is taking aim at the media in the lead-up to Lionsgate<\/a>\u2018s biopic launching this weekend. <\/p>\n

\n\tMichael hits theaters and Imax on Friday and stars Jackson\u2019s nephew Jaafar Jackson<\/a> in his feature debut as the pop music<\/a> icon. Colman Domingo<\/a> portrays the singer\u2019s father, Joe Jackson, while Nia Long plays his mother, Katherine. Miles Teller<\/a>, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate and Derek Luke round out the cast for director Antoine Fuqua<\/a>\u2018s movie that tells the story of Michael Jackson<\/a>\u2018s upbringing and rise to fame, with the film\u2019s narrative ending in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

\n\tTaj Jackson, a musician and producer whose father is Michael Jackson\u2019s brother Tito Jackson, took to social media Tuesday to chide the media over its coverage of the late music superstar. Michael Jackson\u2019s Grammy-winning career included not only 1982\u2019s Thriller, which remains the best-selling album of all time, and such enduring hits as \u201cBillie Jean\u201d and \u201cBeat It,\u201d but also a number of scandals and legal issues. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cSorry media, u don\u2019t get to control the narrative anymore of who Michael Jackson truly was,\u201d Taj Jackson wrote<\/a> on X. \u201cThe public gets to watch this movie\u2026they will decide for themselves. And you can\u2019t handle that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a follow-up post<\/a>, he added, \u201cCan\u2019t wait till some critics have to eat crow. And yes I will be that petty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t wait till some critics have to eat crow. And yes I will be that petty.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tMichael is set to make plenty of noise at the box office as it heads for a domestic opening that is likely to surpass $65 million<\/a>. The critical response has been more muted, as the film currently holds a 36 percent approval rating from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes. In his Michael review for The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>, chief film critic David Rooney called the feature \u201csurprisingly affecting\u201d and also noted, \u201cThe film leaves itself open to accusations of making Michael a saint, which will not sit well with the cancel crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tTHR previously reported<\/a> that an initial, longer version of the movie was set to feature scenes showing the star dealing with child sexual abuse allegations. The third act included a portrayal of an accuser whose past settlement with the performer\u2019s estate stipulated that he would never be dramatized, leading the film to be retooled. A second movie focusing on the latter portion of Jackson\u2019s life prior to his 2009 death has been in development from Lionsgate. <\/p>\n

\n\tTaj Jackson has been a vocal defender of his uncle\u2019s legacy and previously spoke out about the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which centered on two individuals who had accused Michael Jackson of abusing them as children. At that time, Taj Jackson called the allegations false and defamatory.<\/p>\n